Since so many of our customers ask, we thought we’d share with you how to make your own applesauce. It is so easy, and once you start making it yourself, you won’t go back to buying it ever again!  Our applesauce only has one ingredient in it – apples!  The nice thing about making your own applesauce is that each batch can have so much flavour variation; depending on which varieties you choose. The Marlin family secret tip: mix at least 2 apple varieties! Throughout the fall months as different apple varieties become available, you can experiment to find your favourite combination.  Did you know that we grow over 30 varieties of apples?  That’s a lot of applesauce flavours!

This batch of applesauce was made with our favourite combo – McIntosh and Cortland.  McIntosh apples have a wonderful tart flavour that cooks down to the perfect soft texture, while Cortland apples add a touch of sweetness and hold their shape when cooked.

Let’s get into the fun stuff now!

First start by peeling your apples (we use 8-10 medium sized apples for one batch of applesauce).  You can use a regular plain ol’ knife like we use, or you can use an apple peeler. Whatever gets the job done for you!

Next, chop up the apples and discard the core.  You can cut into big pieces or little pieces, depending on how chunky you’d like your applesauce.

Once your apples are chopped, toss them into a saucepan and add a bit of water – just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. If you add too much water, it can make your applesauce very runny. It’s better to add just a little bit now, and add more as needed.

Next, cover the saucepan and put it on the stove over medium-high heat. Keep an eye on it! Once the water starts to boil, turn the heat down to medium-low.  Let it cook and bubble, and you will start to see the apples softening up and breaking down. Make sure to stir it a few times while it’s cooking! It should take about 15 minutes –  but you can cook it less for a chunkier sauce, or cook it longer for a smoother sauce.

And that’s it! You’re done! We love the taste of just the apples – especially when mixing different varieties. However if you like a little cinnamon and sugar added to your applesauce, you can add it while the apples are cooking.

Once the applesauce is finished, store it in a glass container in the fridge, and eat it up within a few days. It makes the perfect snack, topping, condiment, side dish, baby food or baking ingredient! It is so versatile!

We hope you enjoy and are inspired to take some fresh, local apples and make your own applesauce!  Need help choosing your varieties?  We can help you pick the right flavour and texture combination for your applesauce!

Enjoy!